When I was a kid, it wasn’t an issue: Pets belonged outside. In our Overland Park neighborhood, dogs often roamed free and cats always did. Our own cats spent most of their days climbing trees, chasing birds, and sunning themselves on the sidewalk. They got plenty of exercise and stimulation. What could be better?

Well, for starters, the cats not only chased birds–they caught birds. (The American Bird Conservancy estimates that cats kill millions of birds every year, including endangered species.) One of our cats wandered into an open garage and ended up stuck inside for days when the owners went on vacation. Another tangled with a neighbor’s pet and limped home with a bad infection. And some were hit by cars.

The world of pets thirty years later is different and, we hope, better. Stricter leash laws keep our dogs–as well as the neighbors’ kids–safe. And fewer cats roam free. In fact, many animal shelters–Wayside Waifs included–prefer to adopt cats out to owners who pledge to keep their cats indoors.

The Humane Society of the United States claims that outdoor cats often don’t live to see age five. Between dangers from cars, disease, animals, accidents, and human cruelty, outdoor cats face daunting odds. Indoor cats kept healthy and vaccinated can live well into their late teens or even hit age twenty.

If you’re thinking your indoor cat will scratch furniture, go stir-crazy, or get lonely, take measures to prevent those problems instead of relegating him to the outdoors. Indoor cats require training, stimulating toys, and most likely a pal to pass the time with. But they adapt well to the high life, and they’ll thank you for it daily. For more information on how to keep your indoor cat happy, log on to Wayside’s Article Library.

WOW! Make sure you check out our youtube channel! There are some awesome videos about adoptathon. Shotgun Jaxon from 106.5 shares his thoughts on adopting cats, there is an absolutely adorable video about a litter of puppies that came in this morning and watch for Ryans video about his rockin’ play yard (it will post a little later this afternoon)! We are having so much fun this weekend meeting new people and finding new homes for all of our furry friends! Don’t miss this incredible time at Wayside Waifs! Come out and see us!

Greetings from the 106.5 Spring Adoptathon at Wayside Waifs! We have had a steady stream of adopters today and there is no wait to come and adopt. Adopters are moving through the process very quickly and its great to see all of our animals go home with their new families! If you are looking for a cat now is a great time to adopt. There are a lot of wonderful personalities waiting to meet you today! The half price adoption is only available through tomorrow so make sure you come by and take advantage of this savings! Its also good to adopt on a Saturday so you have two days to hang out with your new pet during the time of new transition to your home. Stop by and meet some of our purr-fectly adorable cats!

I must say we have some extremely creative thinkers here at Wayside Waifs! Ryan one of our adoption counselors is doing “meet and greets” with potential adopters and the dogs they are interested in adopting. He has turned Playard #1 into a lounge atmosphere with comfortable chairs and a small merchandise area where adopters can select the items they will need for their new dog. From dog collars and id tags to dog bowls and leashes. It’s personal shopping with your dog! I love it! Watch our youtube channel for video of Ryans lounge later today or come by and see it for yourself!

I was just back in dog adoptions and saw my good friend Moss. He is the sweetest dog! He loves to be outside and run. He came to us in March and weighed only 18 pounds. I happened to be in the vet clinic when he came in and could not believe how skinny he was- you could see his ribs. Thanks to our incredible staff he is now healthy and weighs about 40 pounds. He looks AMAZING! He is definitely ready to find his new home. He is 6 months old (still a little bit of a puppy) and is a Pit Bull/Terrier mix. Come in and meet my good friend Moss!

Our first day of Adopt-a-thon has had a great start! Already we have had 6 animals go home. 106.5 is broadcasting live at Wayside Waifs- there is a lot of excitement in the air! I was just back in cat adoptions shooting some video (which Jenny is now getting ready to upload) and saw the CUTEST kittens. If you have time before work or on your lunch break come over and see all of the kittens, puppies, cats and dogs- all ready to go home. Make sure to keep checking our blog, twitter and youtube sights all day as we’ll be doing updates continuously.

Bob the cat found his way home via Facebook. (Photo courtesy WCCO-TV, Minneapolis/St, Paul)

April 18-24 is National Pet ID Week! Bob, the Maine Coon cat pictured here, found his way home in a most unusual way after being lost for two years. (Read his story here.) We’ve all heard fantastic stories about pets who journey miles to find the owners who lost them, but the reality is that many lost pets never find their way home. You can take measures to prevent a tragedy by making sure all your pets have complete identification.

For a mammal, a collar with a tag is a must-have. The collar should include the pet’s annual rabies tag, if applicable, as well as a tag with your own address and phone as well. At the very least, even if your pet is found far from home, local authorities will know the animal is not a stray and will work hard to find you.

Collars and tags are mandatory, but they can also be lost or wriggled out of. Microchipping your pet, and registering with a national database, is a more permanent form of identification. The identifying chip–about the size of a grain of rice–is injected under the skin and can be scanned by a vet or shelter. Microchipping is not foolproof, however, as a local shelter may not have a scanner that will detect the specific brand of microchip your pet has. The Humane Society of the United States, as well as other groups, is working to standardize microchipping to avoid this problem. In the meantime, always rely on more than one kind of identification.

Whatever method you choose, don’t leave your animal’s safety to chance. Make sure your pet has ID and is registered to ensure that, like Bob, it can always find its way back home.

We applaud the city of Greenwood, Missouri, for changing their breed-specific ordinance against dangerous dogs last week as reported in The GreenSummit Dispatch. While dangerous dogs must be regulated, ordinances against specific breeds-specifically, pit-bull terriers and mixes-are unfair.

Pit bull attacks are sensationalized in the media and especially on the internet. We recognize that any dog can be dangerous if not properly socialized and trained, but certain breeds have been unfairly targeted. Karen Delise of the National Canine Research Council has written extensively on the pit bull and its detractors. She claims that the typical pit-bull attack doesn’t involve a beloved family pet that turns on its owners, but rather an animal that is chained in a yard and trained to be a guard or attack dog. Her book The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths, and Politics of Canine Aggression(Anubis, 2007) studies the history of the breed over the past hundred years.

The American Temperament Test Society reports that American pit bull terriers pass their stringent temperament tests 85.3% of the time–as often as the basset hound and more often than the beagle, cocker spaniel, and several other breeds. It’s time for the media to promote the humane treatment and training of all our canine friends. Dogs don’t ask to be pets; it’s our responsibility to love and socialize them. Only then can we meet our dogs, no matter what the breed, on an equal ethical footing.

Six-month-old Bo is a PWD like this one. (Photo courtesy of puppydogweb.com)

The Washington Post reports that after months of promises and weeks of secrecy, the First Family has officially adopted Bo, a Portuguese water dog (PWD), a gift from Senator Edward Kennedy.

Portuguese water dogs, according to the PWD Club of America, have a colorful history dating back to the thirteenth century. They are working dogs, aiding Portuguese fishermen in herding fish into nets and retrieving lost tackle. The Obamas chose this breed, a “single-coated dog,” based on its hypoallergenic properties as well as its playful nature and good reputation with children. (First daughter Malia is allergic to dogs.)

President Obama was lauded by the Humane Society Legislative Fund during his campaign for his stand on animal rights, prompting the Fund to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in its history. As both a state and U.S. senator, Obama co-sponsored or backed several animal-welfare bills, including those that promoted spaying/neutering and combated animal cruelty. While First Puppy Bo did not come from a rescue or shelter, he did come from a family who was unable to keep him, not directly from a breeder. Portuguese water dogs are said to be tough to find at shelters.

The Obamas have said that in lieu of adopting their puppy from a rescue, they will make a donation to the District of Columbia Humane Society. For more info about PWDs, check out the FAQ page on the PWDCA website.

Many of us may listen to Ben Stein for advice on how to handle our money in this tough economic time, but last week he orated on the subject of pet ownership and the economy – this is the best time own a pet.